Repost of Veterans Day 2012: 11th Airborne, 511th PIR & Rod Serling

VETERANS DAY 2012 – WORLD WAR II – THE PHILIPPINES

History – Veterans Day 2012; 11th Airborne 511th PIR & Rod Serling

(Bienvenido Macario, USA) Sun, Nov 11, 2012 at 6:21 AM

http://waisworld.org/go.jsp?id=02a&objectType=post&o=73200&objectTypeId=65420&topicId=123

KILLED IN ACTION 511th PIR 11th Airborne Division, US ARMY

http://users.owt.com/leodonna/KIA-511th-WWII.htm

Happy Veterans Day 2012 : This is the link of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne commanded by Maj. Gen. Joseph Swing. They were the ones who liberated Las Piñas on Feb. 3, 1945. Although the 188th Glider Infantry Regiment has already landed in Nasugbu on Jan. 31, 1945, Gen. Swing objected to a drop on Tagaytay Ridge unless his men could be supported by other units nearby.

Perhaps he didn’t want a repeat of the failed “Operation: Market Garden”. And sure enough on the night of Feb. 5, 1945, the Japanese launched a “Banzai attack” in Las Piñas. However the suicide attack fell on the recently released Filipino political prisoners from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, Rizal. Weak and famished, the political prisoners were making their way back to Manila and decided to spend the night at the public market. No U.S. soldier was killed in the attack.

There was a short but sharp firefight to save the “Palico” bridge at Pulang Lupa in Las Piñas .

For gallantry in action at Palico Bridge, Las Piñas Luzon, Philippine Islands, February 4, 1945,Col. Irvin Rudolph Schimmelpfennig ,the Chief of Staff of the 11th Airborne received the Silver Star.

Their entry was preceded by a very accurate artillery barrage on what is now the Central Elementary School which the Japanese used as a garrison. Not a shell fell outside the garrison’s perimeter.

In the early morning following the artillery barrage, Mrs. Cristobal was roused from her sleep by the incessant barking of dogs squabbling over a “big piece of bone.” It turned out to be a severed leg of a Japanese soldier one of the dogs found. The Japanese Army unit had already left Las Piñas.

At around 3pm elements of the 511th PIR began entering the town of Las Piñas from the south. Here’s a pop quiz: “How did the lead elements of the 511th PIR knew that it was safe to enter the town proper of Las Piñas?

The first encounter with the Japanese sailors defending Nichols was at the southern foot of the Paranaque Bridge. Japanese fired from the northeast side of the bridge in a village called Ibayo, Three GI’s were killed or wounded. Those who were wounded were brought to the rear i.e. back to Las Piñas Church which was then converted into a medical station.

Because Japanese collaborators ended up in power in the Philippines like Manuel A. Roxas, the Philippines is just about the only “Alllied” country that never held any Liberation Day Parade. The Roxases, Aquinos & Tañadas family ties goes back to pre-WWII. In 1946 Roxas appointed Lorenzo Tañada Chief Prosecutor who then conveniently excluded Roxas among the suspected collaborators. As early as July 22, 1946 Tañada was already rumored to be recommending blanket amnesty to all oligarch – traitors.Ironically since Roxas was not included as suspected collaborator he died as an uncharged traitor and president of the Philippines.

There has to be a Great Architect of the Universe who allow us to exercise our free will.

http://users.owt.com/leodonna/KIA-511th-WWII.htm